Nun resolute in defiance of detention laws

July 20 2002By Larissa Dubecki

On Thursday morning, Sister Brigid Arthur got a phone call asking if she would help two young Woomera escapees seeking asylum in Melbourne.

The call, from a person sheltering the two boys, Alamdar and Muntazer Baktiyari, asked her to come to a spot near the top of Little Collins Street. Sister Brigid came straight from the order's house in Albert Park and took the boys to the British consulate.

Sister Brigid said she had had no previous contact with the boys. She would not say if she knew the person with them, but had given an interview to Federal Police.

Yesterday Sister Brigid was resolute in opposing Australia's detention laws. "I am absolutely appalled that they were flown out before their father had a chance to see them," she said.

A member of the Brigidine Order of nuns for 40 years, Sister Brigid works with the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project, which provides housing and support to refugees on bridging visas.");document.write("

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The Brigidine Sisters released a statement expressing concern over the plight of children in detention but denied assisting asylum seekers on the run.

Sister Brigid said that the boys had "appeared tense and withdrawn but quite purposeful. I didn't speak much to them because they have had enough. But if I was asked to do again what I did for those boys, I would".